Brasstown – There’s nothing quite like a flaky crust and a warm filling to bring a community together, and that’s exactly what happened Friday evening at the Pie-Palooza fundraiser, hosted in the John C. Campbell Folk School Festival Barn in support of the Brasstown Morris Dancers.
The sweet-and-savory event drew folks from all corners of the county, eager to sample slices of every kind of pie imaginable: classic apple, decadent chocolate walnut, strawberry jello, even a few adventurous entries like Hunter’s Pie with venison and Greek spinach filo pie. It was a pie-lover’s dream, and all for a worthy cause.
The goal? Helping the Brasstown Morris Dancers fund their upcoming trip across the pond to England this July, where they’ll take part in a series of traditional folk festivals and cultural exchanges that celebrate the centuries-old dance form. For many of the dancers, it’s not just a trip – it’s a pilgrimage to the very birthplace of Morris dancing.
“This trip means a lot to us,” longtime dancer and organizer Nanette Davidson said. “We’re just kind of alone, there’s Morris groups far and wide from New England to California, and the closest to us is two groups in Asheville, so this trip is to broaden our horizons and learn from this. We’ll be performing in the Warwick Folk Festival, visiting Fleece Inn in Bretforton and even attending workshops at the legendary Sidmouth Folk Festival.”
The Pie-Palooza was more than just a fundraiser; it was a celebration of community spirit and homegrown talent. Attendees took part in several raffle items, watched Morris demonstrations on the stage and tapped their toes to live fiddle music.
“One of my favorite parts of the evening, at the end we invited audience members to join us, and I was pulling these tiny girls on stage and giving them hankies,” Davidson said, laughing at the memory. “They were so excited to be on stage with us, we’re always looking for new dancers and it builds community – our dancers are so connected to each other.”
Proceeds from the event will help cover airfare, lodging, and festival tickets for the 26-member troupe, which includes dancers ranging in ages from 15-77.
“We almost met our goal, our goal was $4,000 and we made $3,000,” Davidson said. “We’re a separate organization, but we’re ambassadors for the folk school when we go out. We’re just a community dance group. Over the years, we’ve had so many different people dance with us. It’s a really varied group of people.”
Details: Send donations to the care of Nanette Davidson at P.O. Box 157, Brasstown, NC 28902.